In a surprising twist of energy politics, major oil and gas executives are emerging as unexpected defenders of offshore wind projects—pushing back against former President Donald Trump’s aggressive attempts to halt federally approved wind farms. This rare alignment between fossil fuel leaders and renewable energy advocates underscores growing concerns over regulatory instability and economic fallout in the U.S. energy sector.
Why Oil Leaders Are Speaking Out
While Trump has long criticized wind energy—calling on the UK to “get rid of windmills” and labeling turbines as “bird killers” —his 2025 executive actions have gone further, canceling $679 million in funding for a dozen offshore wind projects and revoking permits even for developments that had already secured federal approval .
Industry insiders say these abrupt policy shifts are creating chaos in energy markets. The American Petroleum Institute (API), the nation’s leading oil and gas trade group, recently released a 2025 Energy Policy Roadmap urging Congress to modernize permitting processes and ensure regulatory certainty—language widely interpreted as a rebuke of Trump’s ad hoc wind energy cancellations .
“Unpredictable policy swings hurt all energy sectors—not just renewables,” said an API spokesperson. “Investors need stability to deploy capital at scale.”
Offshore Wind Projects in Limbo
As of September 2025, at least five major offshore wind projects—including Revolution Wind and Maryland Offshore Wind—are caught in legal and bureaucratic purgatory after the Trump administration issued “halt work” orders despite prior federal sign-offs , , .
Key Affected Projects (as of September 2025)
| Project Name | State | Status Before Trump Order | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolution Wind | RI/CT | Fully permitted, under construction | Construction halted (Aug 2025) |
| Maryland Offshore Wind | MD | Federal approval granted | Approval vacated (Sept 2025) |
| South Fork Wind | NY | Operational (partial) | Under legal review |
| Vineyard Wind 2 | MA | Permitting finalized | Permit rescinded |
| Coastal Virginia Offshore | VA | Lease secured, pre-construction | Lease voided |
From Biden’s Ambition to Trump’s Reversal
The clash reflects a stark contrast in presidential energy visions:
- Biden Administration: Set a national goal of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030 and approved over 15 GW across 10 projects , .
- Trump Administration (2025): Issued a January 2025 memorandum withdrawing all Outer Continental Shelf areas from offshore wind leasing , and by July 2025, rescinded all designated Wind Energy Areas .
Economic and Legal Fallout
Industry analysts warn that halting projects mid-stream could cost billions in sunk investments and jeopardize U.S. climate commitments. A coalition of 12 states has already filed suit challenging Trump’s executive order .
Moreover, oil companies—many of which have diversified into offshore wind through joint ventures—fear reputational and financial risks. Companies like Shell and TotalEnergies, active in both oil and renewables, have expressed concern over the “regulatory whiplash” .
What’s Next? A Policy Crossroads
🔍 Policy Timeline: Offshore Wind Under Fire
- Jan 20, 2025: Trump signs memo halting all offshore wind leasing .
- Apr 16, 2025: First “halt work” order issued for fully permitted project .
- July 4, 2025: New law requires projects to be under construction within 1 year or lose status .
- Sept 15, 2025: Maryland project approval officially vacated .
As legal battles unfold, energy stakeholders—including oil executives—are urging a more balanced approach. “We’re not anti-wind,” said one Gulf Coast energy CEO. “We’re anti-chaos.”
For more on U.S. clean energy policy debates, see our in-depth analysis on [INTERNAL_LINK:renewable-energy-policy].
For authoritative context on federal energy goals, refer to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Sources
- The New York Times: Unexpected Critics of Trump’s Attacks on Wind Energy
- Reuters: Trump Calls On UK to ‘Get Rid’ of Offshore Wind Farms
- E&E News: Donald Trump’s War on Wind
- Bloomberg: Trump Administration Stops Construction on Revolution Wind
- American Petroleum Institute: Policy Roadmap Release
- White House: Offshore Wind Milestone Announcement
- BOEM: Status of U.S. Offshore Wind Leasing and Permitting [[9], [14]]
